The ED Consultation Playbook: How to Make the Most of Your Telehealth Visit

Deciding to get help for ED is the hard part. The actual telehealth consultation? That's the easy part — if you know what to expect and come prepared. This playbook walks you through everything that happens before, during, and after your appointment, so you can get the most out of a process that typically takes less time than brewing a cup of coffee.

Before the Consultation: What to Gather

Most telehealth platforms start with a health intake questionnaire before you're connected with a provider. Having this information ready will make the process faster and help your provider give you the most personalized recommendation.

Your Medical History

Be ready to share any current medical conditions (particularly cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), any history of heart attack, stroke, or cardiac surgery, and any conditions affecting your prostate, kidneys, or liver. Your provider needs this information to prescribe safely — particularly to rule out contraindications with nitrate medications.

Your Current Medications

Make a list of everything you take — prescription medications, over-the-counter medications, and supplements. Pay particular attention to nitrates (nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate or dinitrate), alpha-blockers (tamsulosin, doxazosin), blood pressure medications, antidepressants (SSRIs are relevant because they can cause ED as a side effect), and any other medications that affect cardiovascular function.

If you can't remember exact names and doses, take a photo of your pill bottles. Most telehealth platforms have a way to upload images during the intake process.

Your ED History

Think through these questions before your appointment because your provider will ask some version of all of them. When did you first notice erectile difficulty? Is it every time, most of the time, or occasional? Do you get erections during sleep or upon waking? (Morning erections suggest the vascular system is working, pointing toward psychological causes.) Is the problem getting an erection, maintaining it, or both? Has anything changed recently — stress, medication, weight, relationship dynamics? Have you tried any treatments before, and if so, what happened?

During the Consultation: What Happens

The format depends on the platform. Some conduct live video consultations (5–15 minutes). Others use asynchronous messaging — you complete the intake, a provider reviews it within hours, and follows up with questions or a treatment recommendation via the platform's messaging system. Both approaches produce equivalent prescribing quality for ED.

What the Provider Is Evaluating

Your provider is looking at several factors simultaneously. Safety is the first priority — is it safe to prescribe a PDE5 inhibitor given your medical history and current medications? Next, they're assessing etiology — what's likely causing your ED, which informs the best treatment approach. And finally, they're considering your preferences — on-demand vs daily, generic vs compounded, specific medication choice.

Don't be surprised if the consultation feels efficient. ED is one of the most common conditions treated through telehealth, and experienced providers have evaluated thousands of cases. A focused 5–10 minute conversation plus your intake questionnaire provides everything they need to make a safe, appropriate prescribing decision.

Questions Worth Asking

You should feel empowered to ask your provider questions. Some particularly useful ones include: "Based on my profile, do you recommend sildenafil or tadalafil, and why?" This reveals whether your provider is making a thoughtful, personalized recommendation or just defaulting. "Would you recommend on-demand or daily dosing?" This is particularly relevant for tadalafil and depends on your sexual activity frequency and lifestyle. "Are there any lifestyle changes that would make this medication work better?" A good provider will mention exercise, weight management, alcohol moderation, and sleep — not just write a prescription and move on.

You can also ask about compounded options if standard medications don't fully address your needs, or about the timeline for follow-up to discuss how treatment is working.

After the Consultation: What to Expect

If your provider approves treatment, the prescription is typically sent to a pharmacy the same day — often within hours. For platforms that ship from partner pharmacies, your medication usually arrives within 2–5 business days in discreet packaging. Some platforms offer expedited shipping for an additional fee.

When your medication arrives, don't use it for the first time in a high-pressure situation. Take it on a relaxed evening when there's no performance pressure — this lets you understand how your body responds to the medication (onset time, duration, side effects) without anxiety distorting your experience. Many providers explicitly recommend a "practice dose" for this reason.

The Follow-Up That Matters

Good platforms check in after you've used the medication a few times. This follow-up is important because it's your opportunity to report whether the medication is working, whether side effects are tolerable, and whether the dose needs adjustment. Don't skip it — the difference between "this kind of works" and "this works great" is often a simple dose change or a switch between medications.

If the first medication doesn't work well for you, that's normal and expected. Response to ED medication isn't one-size-fits-all, and most providers have a systematic approach: try the first option, evaluate, adjust. The vast majority of men find an effective treatment within two or three adjustments.

Making It Routine

Once you've found a treatment that works, most platforms offer subscription models that handle refills and deliveries automatically. Your medication shows up every month without you needing to think about it. Follow-up consultations are typically available through the platform's messaging system at no additional cost — so if anything changes, you can adjust without scheduling a new appointment.

The entire process — from first consultation to having an effective treatment in hand — typically takes less than a week. For something that may have been causing stress for months or years, that's a remarkably fast path to resolution. The providers below make getting started simple.

Explore ED Treatment Providers

Vetted telehealth platforms offering prescription ED treatments. All links are affiliate partnerships.